[LorrieTorrie]

I started Zyprexa (5mg) on 1/18, and Lithium (300mg) on 1/19. I began experiencing hypo mania shortly after starting the meds (it may have been there before, but I really started noticing that I was taking fast, had the urge to spend, was extremely irritable, etc after the fact) I told my pdoc, so we went up to Lithium 600mg and Zyprexa 10mg on the 26th. I feel like the hypo mania is getting worse. I'm worried a full blown manic episode might be near. He made it seem like the meds would work immediately, so now I'm freaking out that it's not working. Has anyone experienced getting worse before getting better? I'm just so frustrated I want to cry. Could the meds be making me feel this way?

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Whether lithium is working depends on your blood level, not your dose. So that's the first question (which would obviously require your pdoc to order labs; they are usually very good at doing lithium levels on request because they don't want to miss anything). The other thing is that they may start to work but you might still need more for it to REALLY work. 10 mg of Zyprexa is (I think) a medium dose so maybe you need a little more. Or maybe Zyprexa doesn't work for you. It doesn't even make me sleepy, much less have any other effect. It works well for most people but not everyone is most people. Regardless I'll get in touch your pdoc just to touch base and let him know you are feeling more manic, not less and is there any adjustment that can be done? I am still asking that in messages to my pdoc even though I know there aren't, just because I think it justifies contacting them (and I know she doesn't care and I don't need the excuse but it makes me feel better).

Rarely a med does have the opposite effect. I've not heard about that too often with Zyprexa. I suppose it could have happened to me but I was so extremely agitated when I went on it that I'd not have known. I just know it did not help. I've had a med or two that should have made me tired and did the opposite. Benadry is one; in the hospital after Zyprexa (plus a heap of Seroquel and other sedatives) didn't work and we were waiting for me to see a psychiatrist b/c I came in over the weekend they were giving me Benadry every 4 hours until about 30 hours into this the nurse realized I got worse with every dose. Obviously they stopped it and traded it for showers and a 1:1 aide until better meds were prescribed. I reacted that way to a mood stabilizer or AP but I can't remember which one. Keppra did it but that was a long time ago and it never made it into being used commonly as a mood stabilizer; maybe that is why. There was another one though. It doesn't really matter which, it just will annoy me until I remember . But that's another reason to touch base with your pdoc tomorrow.

[LorrieTorrie]

I was trying not to be a bother, but you're right. I'll contact him tomorrow and see if some adjustments may be necessary.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I hate bothering mine too but it is better to bother now than to bother when you are flying high as a kite and can't make sense

[LorrieTorrie]

I agree. I'm trying to avoid any more hospitalization if I can. I guess I'm just anxious for the medicine to start working. I know it'll take time, but I'm just ready to stop feeling and thinking this way.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Believe me, I understand.

[Aquarius33]

Originally Posted by LorrieTorrie

I started Zyprexa (5mg) on 1/18, and Lithium (300mg) on 1/19. I began experiencing hypo mania shortly after starting the meds (it may have been there before, but I really started noticing that I was taking fast, had the urge to spend, was extremely irritable, etc after the fact) I told my pdoc, so we went up to Lithium 600mg and Zyprexa 10mg on the 26th. I feel like the hypo mania is getting worse. I'm worried a full blown manic episode might be near. He made it seem like the meds would work immediately, so now I'm freaking out that it's not working. Has anyone experienced getting worse before getting better? I'm just so frustrated I want to cry. Could the meds be making me feel this way?

I am getting off of lithium after 6 months cuz I slipped into a bipolar depressive episode and I just slowly started getting worse. I was on lithium and abilify and it didn't work for me. I was on 900 mg of lithium and still no relief so when my med appt finally came I told her as im crying and sobbing to get me on something else, which she did. I do know my doc said sometimes wellbutrin will cause an extreme high and I was to call her immediately to avoid anything bad to happen like spend all my money or anything risky. So if your feeling like your getting a high, you should call your doc.

[43camt]

Zyprexa usually works pretty quickly in my experience, and lithium will take a while as they start you off low and work your way up to a therapeutic range of lithium in your blood.

Ive been on 1500mg of lithium for a year. It works very well for me.

[MrD500]

I would suggest watching your weight with Zyprexa. I gained like 50 pounds in like 3 months on that stuff.

Best of luck to you!

[LorrieTorrie]

I called him yesterday, because I'm definitely experiencing some hypomania. I called at 8am right as they opened. They closed at 5pm, so at 4:50pm I called again. They told me he would call me right back. Nothing. I called him again this morning after my therapist, who agrees that this is hypomania. Still haven't heard anything. I strongly dislike him. I think he takes on too many patients. I have nowhere else to go, so I'm stuck waiting on him to call back.